Biofilm formation of Flavobacterium psychrophilum on various substrates

The ability of Flavobacterium psychrophilum to adhere to and form biofilms on different types of materials used on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farms was evaluated in this study. F. psychrophilum NCIMB 1947T, was inoculated onto a variety of different surfaces, including stainless steel, plastic, glass, wood, and zinc pyrithione encapsulated antibacterial plastic. The samples were then cultured in a humidified chamber or transferred into fish tanks containing either (1) freshwater or (2) filtered lake water. The formation of biofilms was quantified by fluorescent microscopy. F. psychrophilum formed biofilms on all of the surfaces tested; however, the adherence of the bacterium to the antibacterial plastic was much lower than the attachment observed on the other surfaces, illustrating the bacteriostatic properties of this material for F. psychrophilum. Moreover, bacterial numbers were greater on the surfaces maintained in lake water compared with those maintained in freshwater. The mineral composition of the lake water may have been responsible for the increased bacterial adherence observed between the two types of water. Treatment of the water, regular cleaning of equipment and the use of antimicrobial material to house the fish may help reduce biofilm formation by F. psychrophilum in fish farming systems

Polymorphisms within autophagy-related genes as susceptibility biomarkers for multiple myeloma: a meta-analysis of three large cohorts and functional characterization

Functional data used in this project have been meticulously catalogued and archived in the BBMRI-NL data infrastructure (https://hfgp.bbmri.nl/, accessed on 12 February 2020) using the MOLGENIS open-source platform for scientific data.Multiple myeloma (MM) arises following malignant proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow, that secrete high amounts of specific monoclonal immunoglobulins or light chains, resulting in the massive production of unfolded or misfolded proteins. Autophagy can have a dual role in tumorigenesis, by eliminating these abnormal proteins to avoid cancer development, but also ensuring MM cell survival and promoting resistance to treatments. To date no studies have determined the impact of genetic variation in autophagy-related genes on MM risk. We performed meta-analysis of germline genetic data on 234 autophagy-related genes from three independent study populations including 13,387 subjects of European ancestry (6863 MM patients and 6524 controls) and examined correlations of statistically significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; p < 1 × 10−9) with immune responses in whole blood, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) from a large population of healthy donors from the Human Functional Genomic Project (HFGP). We identified SNPs in six loci, CD46, IKBKE, PARK2, ULK4, ATG5, and CDKN2A associated with MM risk (p = 4.47 × 10−4−5.79 × 10−14). Mechanistically, we found that the ULK4rs6599175 SNP correlated with circulating concentrations of vitamin D3 (p = 4.0 × 10−4), whereas the IKBKErs17433804 SNP correlated with the number of transitional CD24+CD38+ B cells (p = 4.8 × 10−4) and circulating serum concentrations of Monocyte hemoattractant Protein (MCP)-2 (p = 3.6 × 10−4). We also found that the CD46rs1142469 SNP corre lated with numbers of CD19+ B cells, CD19+CD3− B cells, CD5+ IgD− cells, IgM− cells, IgD−IgM− cells, and CD4−CD8− PBMCs (p = 4.9 × 10−4−8.6 × 10−4 ) and circulating concentrations of interleukin (IL)-20 (p = 0.00082). Finally, we observed that the CDKN2Ars2811710 SNP correlated with levels of CD4+EMCD45RO+CD27− cells (p = 9.3 × 10−4 ). These results suggest that genetic variants within these six loci influence MM risk through the modulation of specific subsets of immune cells, as well as vitamin D3−, MCP-2−, and IL20-dependent pathways.This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, N° 856620 and by grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and FEDER (Madrid, Spain; PI17/02256 and PI20/01845), Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades and FEDER (PY20/01282), from the CRIS foundation against cancer, from the Cancer Network of Excellence (RD12/10 Red de Cáncer), from the Dietmar Hopp Foundation and the German Ministry of Education and Science (BMBF: CLIOMMICS [01ZX1309]), and from National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers: R01CA186646, U01CA249955 (EEB).This work was also funded d by Portuguese National funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)—project UIDB/50026/2020 and UIDP/50026/2020 and by the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000055, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Polymorphisms within Autophagy-Related Genes as Susceptibility Biomarkers for Multiple Myeloma: A Meta-Analysis of Three Large Cohorts and Functional Characterization

Multiple myeloma (MM) arises following malignant proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow, that secrete high amounts of specific monoclonal immunoglobulins or light chains, resulting in the massive production of unfolded or misfolded proteins. Autophagy can have a dual role in tumorigenesis, by eliminating these abnormal proteins to avoid cancer development, but also ensuring MM cell survival and promoting resistance to treatments. To date no studies have determined the impact of genetic variation in autophagy-related genes on MM risk. We performed meta-analysis of germline genetic data on 234 autophagy-related genes from three independent study populations including 13,387 subjects of European ancestry (6863 MM patients and 6524 controls) and examined correlations of statistically significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; p < 1 × 10−9) with immune responses in whole blood, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) from a large population of healthy donors from the Human Functional Genomic Project (HFGP). We identified SNPs in six loci, CD46, IKBKE, PARK2, ULK4, ATG5, and CDKN2A associated with MM risk (p = 4.47 × 10−4−5.79 × 10−14). Mechanistically, we found that the ULK4rs6599175 SNP correlated with circulating concentrations of vitamin D3 (p = 4.0 × 10−4), whereas the IKBKErs17433804 SNP correlated with the number of transitional CD24+CD38+ B cells (p = 4.8 × 10−4) and circulating serum concentrations of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein (MCP)-2 (p = 3.6 × 10−4). We also found that the CD46rs1142469 SNP correlated with numbers of CD19+ B cells, CD19+CD3− B cells, CD5+IgD− cells, IgM− cells, IgD−IgM− cells, and CD4−CD8− PBMCs (p = 4.9 × 10−4−8.6 × 10−4) and circulating concentrations of interleukin (IL)-20 (p = 0.00082). Finally, we observed that the CDKN2Ars2811710 SNP correlated with levels of CD4+EMCD45RO+CD27− cells (p = 9.3 × 10−4). These results suggest that genetic variants within these six loci influence MM risk through the modulation of specific subsets of immune cells, as well as vitamin D3−, MCP-2−, and IL20-dependent pathways.This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, N° 856620 and by grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and FEDER (Madrid, Spain; PI17/02256 and PI20/01845), Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades and FEDER (PY20/01282), from the CRIS foundation against cancer, from the Cancer Network of Excellence (RD12/10 Red de Cáncer), from the Dietmar Hopp Foundation and the German Ministry of Education and Science (BMBF: CLIOMMICS [01ZX1309]), and from National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers: R01CA186646, U01CA249955 (EEB). This work was also funded d by Portuguese National funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)—project UIDB/50026/2020 and UIDP/50026/2020 and by the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000055, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).Peer reviewe

Development of a peroxide biodetector for a direct detection of biofilms produced by catalase-positive bacteria on food-contact surfaces

Detection of biofilms on food-contact surfaces is essential for establishing sanitization procedures and avoiding microbial contamination of food products. The objective of our study was to develop a peroxide biodetector, to detect and reveal the presence of biofilms. A positive reaction was observed when biodetector bubbles were formed on stainless steel and polypropylene surfaces. A range of microorganisms able to form biofilms was evaluated. Catalase-positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium and Cronobacter sakazakii were employed as well as the catalase-negative bacterium: Lactobacillus brevis. With the exception of C. sakazakii, all catalase-positive foodborne pathogens forming the biofilms showed a positive detection by the biodetector, being 104 CFU cm−2 the minimum microbial load detected. The strongest positive reaction was for P. aeruginosa. Results demonstrated the potential of this biodetector to detect biofilms, particularly when used as a tool in the food industry

Exudado bronquial de proteínas séricas en la crisis de asma

Objetivo: La alteración de la permeabilidad vascular y el edema de la mucosa bronquial se asocian con las crisis de asma. Hay pocos datos publicados y además no se conoce su relación con la gravedad de éstas. Así se propuso comparar los índices relativos de albúmina (IRAlb) y de macroglobulina a2 (IRMa2), entre esputo inducido y sangre periférica, de asmáticos agudizados (AA), asmáticos estables (AE) y controles. Pacientes y métodos: Se estudió a 46 voluntarios: 14 del grupo AA (volumen espiratorio forzado en el primer segundo [FEV1]: 74,3 ± 20,8), 23 del AE (FEV1: 93,6 ± 7,5) y 9 controles (FEV1: 101,1 ± 9,9). Se cuantificó la concentración de albúmina (turbidimetría inmunoquímica) y de macroglobulina a2 (nefelometría inmunoquímica) en el sobrenadante del esputo y en sangre venosa periférica y se calcularon los índices relativos. Resultados: La media ± desviación estándar del IRAlb fue de 1,2 ± 1,1 en el grupo control, de 2,9 ± 3,1 en AE y de 6,0 ± 6,7 en AA. El IRMa2 fue 11,7 ± 10,9, 11,9 ± 14,7 y 3,2 ± 3,8, respectivamente. El incremento del IRAlb entre los grupos AA, AE y control, y el descenso del IRMa2 entre AA y control fueron estadísticamente significativos (p < 0,05). Se relacionó el porcentaje de neutrófilos, y no el de eosinófilos, con el IRAlb (r = 0,39; p = 0,008), pero no con el IRMa2 (r = -­0,035; p = 0,82). El FEV1 se relacionó inversamente con el IRAlb (r = ­-0,43; p = 0,009) y no con el IRMa2 (r = -­0,206; p = 0,24), y tampoco se relacionó la saturación de oxihemoglobina con el IRAlb (r = ­0,33; p = 0,19) o el IRMa2 (r = ­-0,12; p = 0,84). Conclusiones: La permeabilidad vascular está alterada en las agudizaciones de asma y parece relacionarse con la presencia de neutrófilos y el grado de obstrucción bronquial

ARMIA: A Sensorized Arm Wearable for Motor Rehabilitation

In this paper, we present ARMIA: a sensorized arm wearable that includes a combination of inertial and sEMG sensors to interact with serious games in telerehabilitation setups. This device reduces the cost of robotic assistance technologies to be affordable for end-users at home and at rehabilitation centers. Hardware and acquisition software specifications are described together with potential applications of ARMIA in real-life rehabilitation scenarios. A detailed comparison with similar medical technologies is provided, with a specific focus on wearable devices and virtual and augmented reality approaches. The potential advantages of the proposed device are also described showing that ARMIA could provide similar, if not better, the effectivity of physical therapy as well as giving the possibility of home-based rehabilitation.This research was funded by University of Alicante, project "Exoforge: Laboratorio docente interdisciplinar para desarrollo de proyectos en tecnologías asistivas", grant number 5487

La Libreta

Se explica un estudio realizado en un centro preferente de integración de alumnado con discapacidad motriz (DM) que pretende conseguir los siguientes objetivos: de un lado conocer y valorar cómo incide la aplicación de estrategias didácticas en la inclusión del alumnado con DM y del otro, conocer y elaborar, como grupo de trabajo, herramientas de observación y análisis de datos que nos permitan reflexionar sobre la práctica docente inclusiva. Se realiza a partir de un modelo A-B formado por dos sesiones, mediatizadas por un proceso colaborativo de formación-acción.ES